SMARTPHONE RUNNER UP: The Galaxy S III.

It's packed with some of the best hardware on the market and has a screen that can compete with the iPhone's high-resolution display.

It also has one big advantage on the iPhone: a much bigger screen. Android also runs about as smoothly as the iPhone operating system on the Galaxy S III. These phones are also on a much faster mobile broadband network.

But it is still hard to argue with the impeccable design of the iPhone 4S. Even the last generation iPhone, the iPhone 4, is still one of the best phones on the market thanks to its design.

But most developers opt for the Apple App Store, so you will likely have to wait for the best applications (like Instagram) to appear on Android.

BEST 10-INCH TABLET: iPad with Retina display.

You'd be surprised how much of a difference a high-resolution screen makes when it comes to a tablet.

You're typically holding the device very close to your face, so it's easier to see the effects of a crisp display compared to a computer. It makes just about everything — including web pages and apps, as long as they are specified for that resolution — look absolutely stunning.

On top of that, the iPad still sports top-of-the-line specifications, and beats a lot of the competition on a price-per-quality basis. The iPad starts at $500, while a similar competitor like the Asus Transformer sells for $500 with a much lower-quality screen.

It's disappointing that a competitor has yet to come close to the iPad, but there's plenty in the pipeline from both Google and Microsoft.

10-INCH TABLET RUNNER-UP: iPad 2.

Price: $400

Again, disappointing from the competition that the iPad 2 is still one of the best tablets on the market, even though it's a year old.

But you can attribute that to Tim Cook's magic supply chain, which is literally years ahead of other manufacturers. So much so that Apple can afford to drop the price of the iPad 2 by $100.

When it comes to hardware specifications, the iPad 2 is still a beast with a 1024 by 768 pixel resolution that tops a lot of the existing competition and a 10-hour battery on wi-fi.

It's a touch-controlled e-reader like the Kindle Touch, but you have the option of turning on a backlight for low-light situations.

We're surprised at how important this is when it comes to e-readers. It's a small feature that distinguishes it from the rest of the e-readers on the market and decidedly makes the Nook Simple Touch the best e-reader on the market.

BEST PORTABLE GAME CONSOLE: PlayStation Vita.

The diversity of the game titles is staggering. It can play games from the previous generation handheld console, from the PlayStation, and also has access to a ton of popular apps. You can play triple-A level games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss or casual puzzle games like Lumines.

You won't see as diverse a line-up of games on the Apple App Store.

The device also has tons of ways to control its games, such as a touchscreen and a touchpad on the back of the device. It also has a pair of analog sticks and a whole set of buttons — making it much easier to control games.

If you have extra room in your bag or pocket, bring a PlayStation Vita with you.

PORTABLE GAME CONSOLE RUNNER-UP: Nintendo 3DS.

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

Price: $170

If, for some reason, you absolutely have to carry around a 3D-enabled game console, then we'll go ahead and give our blessing to the Nintendo 3DS.

The library of game titles is microscopic compared to the PlayStation Vita, but you'll still have access to a bunch of fun franchises like Super Mario and Kid Icarus.

The games are still fun, but they are fewer in number than the PlayStation Vita.

And you'll have the benefit of a 3D screen without the need of special glasses — though the novelty might wear off over time.

LAPTOP RUNNER UP: MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

If you have the money, you should shell out for the MacBook Pro with a Retina display.

This machine is stunning. It has all the power of a MacBook Pro while still retaining the form factor of a MacBook Air — and it packs the ultra-high resolution of an iPad or an iPhone 4 onto the laptop's giant screen.

There's a downside here: you won't be able to open it up to repair it and upgrade it, and repairs on other parts of the machine will cost a fortune.

But this is still one of the best machines on the market, even with a hefty price tag.